Sir, There is a delicious irony in the electoral plight of Labour in Scotland (Opinion, Mar 6, and letter, Mar 7). When Tony Blair and Donald Dewar espoused devolution for Scotland in 1997, they did not have in mind the better governance of Scotland. Their object in creating the Scottish Parliament was to diminish the Scottish National Party, and thus kill the independence debate; and to make Labour the dominant party in Scotland forever. That nearly happened; but not quite.
The SNP has exploited the Scottish Parliament to promote independence and gain political dominance in Scotland. It stands on the brink of annihilating Labour as a Scottish political force. What a nemesis for arrogant, over-clever new Labour.
Stanley Brodie, QC
Hollybush, Ayr